Gender data is not just valuable; it is essential in preventing and responding to gender-based violence. But there are gaps.

Originally published on UN Women Africa

As the world observes 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), we must acknowledge a major obstacle hindering efforts to address GBV: the lack of comprehensive, readily available gender data.

Despite considerable improvements in both the availability and use of data on violence against women and girls (VAWG) in recent years and the availability of data on intimate partner violence (IPV) for at least 161 countries, there are still gaps.

Some of the glaring gender data gaps relate to online violence and GBV in both natural and man-made humanitarian crises where the contexts are fluid, the provision of services, including security, is hampered or there a breakdown in law and order altogether.

Women are seen at a displaced person''''s site that helps women in need, including victims of sexual violence, in Bentiu, Sudan. Photo: © OCHA/Alioune Ndiaye)

Pain Points in Understanding Online Gender-Based Violence

The power of data in informing responses to and helping to prevent GBV cannot be overstated. More than just numbers, accurate gender data can allow for a more in-depth understanding of the severity, frequency, and forms of violence, and identifying those most at risk as well as the common perpetrators. It can pinpoint where violence occurs and assess the impact on the lives of survivors'''' and societal well-being.

As the use of digital technology in even the most basic tasks of our day-to-day lives soars, a relatively new form of violence−technology-facilitated GBV (TF-GBV)−is, unfortunately, becoming commonplace.

A 2024 study of five countries in sub-Saharan Africa found that 28 per cent of women had experienced online violence while a recent UNFPA-University of Nairobi study showed that a whopping nearly 90 per cent of young adults enrolled in Nairobi’s tertiary institutions have witnessed TF-GBV, with 39 per cent having experienced it personally. A UN Women study found that 60 per cent of women internet users in Arab States had been exposed to online violence.

While there is growing interest and research, comprehensive data on this form of GBV is hard to come by, including in the global south where gender statistics systems are still being developed.

Indeed, the overall availability of gender data tends to be strongly influenced by the availability of funds with which to build and sustain gender data systems. November 2024 data from UN Women’s Gender Data Outlook shows that countries with reliable domestic funding for gender data perform up to 60 per cent better in terms of data accessibility.

The data finds that although sub-Saharan African has made great strides in the production of gender data in the past few years, 41 per cent of the data needed to monitor progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG5 on gender equality and women’s empowerment, is still missing.

In the case of TF-GBV, comparable, reliable data on its prevalence, forms, impact, and drivers is limited across different global regions and social intersections such as race, religion, and disability and migration status. Further, data on the links between online and offline violence is scarce, although we know from many women’s experiences that such links exist.

Gender Data in Humanitarian Contexts

Whether triggered by conflict, natural disaster, or public health emergency, humanitarian crises disproportionately impact women, girls, and marginalized groups, placing them at increased risk of violence. The oft-cited statistic that one in three women and girls globally (30 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 years), has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, rises to an alarming 70 per cent in humanitarian contexts. Still, given the challenges of collecting data in these contexts, this may still likely be an underestimate of the true magnitude of violence against women and girls in humanitarian settings.

Challenges and resulting gaps notwithstanding, in recent years, there has been progress in collecting gender data in crisis settings. For instance, in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), it is estimated that over one million women have suffered from rape, with 52 percent of women experiencing domestic violence. Following Russia''''s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, reports of GBV surged with the national GBV hotline, supported by UNFPA, recording 1,515 calls and online requests in just three weeks.

UN Women data from Sudan published in September 2024 finds that the ongoing war has resulted in the largest internal displacement crisis in the world with catastrophic impacts on women and girls not least of all, a more than doubling in rates of GBV. According to the data, by December 2023, more than 6.7 million women, girls, boys, and men were already in need of GBV services, up from 3.1 million before the conflict began. The figure is likely to be much higher now with the protracted crisis. While men and boys in Sudan are also victims of GBV, most of the cases involve women and girls.

The figures signal and reinforce that GBV is a pervasive and urgent issue that must be systematically addressed by humanitarian actors, and that data should ultimately help shape the development of evidence-driven interventions in each country.

Photo: UNICEF/Michele Sibiloni

Mind the Gap

Data gaps are even more pronounced in marginalized populations—older women, women with disabilities, and LGBTIQ+ individuals—which are often excluded from data collection, rendering their experiences invisible. The lack of disaggregated data, especially by age, race, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression, hinders understanding how intersecting identities contribute to vulnerability. An intersectional approach to data collection and analysis is thus vital to ensure that no one is left behind.

Factors Contributing to Data Gaps:

1. Focus on Immediate Needs: Humanitarian action often prioritizes urgent needs like food and shelter, overshadowing GBV data collection.
2. Limited Access and Resources: Access constraints, resource limitations, and capacity limitations within organizations impede systematic data collection.
3. Misunderstanding of Gender Data: A narrow view of gender data as merely sex-disaggregated statistics limits its potential.
4. Exclusion from Decision-Making: Women and girls are often excluded from decision-making, hindering the incorporation of their experiences.
5. Technology''''s Double-Edged Sword: New technologies offer innovative data collection approaches but raise ethical and safety concerns.

Bridging the Data Gaps: Solutions and Innovation

Addressing TF-GBV demands addressing data gaps to increase knowledge and understanding of the drivers of this form of violence and the profiles of perpetrators and to inform prevention and response efforts. This requires more investment in gender data.

UN Women FAQs on TF-GBV also point to enhancing cooperation between governments, the technology sector, women’s rights organizations and civil society to strengthen policies on digital communication. An inclusive process to develop and implement laws and regulations with the participation of survivors and women’s organizations will enhance transparency and the use of data and the development of standards of accountability for the technology sector will help in addressing digital violence.

For humanitarian contexts important considerations come into play:

1. GBV Should Not be an Afterthought: Integrate GBV data collection into the initial stages of humanitarian response.
2. Promoting Data Literacy: Invest in training, technology, and logistical support for GBV data collection.
3. Expanding Understanding of Gender Data: Promote a broader understanding beyond simple sex-disaggregation.
4. Centering Women and Girls: Ensure their meaningful participation in data collection, analysis, and program design.
5. Harnessing Technology Responsibly: Leverage technology while prioritizing ethical considerations and survivor safety, including innovative methods like geospatial data and mobile surveys.

It is time for action; There is #NoExcuse. 

By prioritizing investment in robust gender data systems, addressing critical gaps, and centering the voices and experiences of survivors, GBV responses, including in digital and humanitarian settings, will not only be more effective, but will also bring us closer to addressing the root causes of GBV. Let us move beyond rhetoric and embrace data as a cornerstone of gender-responsive action, ensuring that no one is left behind.

The tools and resources to collect gender data for preventing and responding to GBV are within our reach; now is the time to leverage them.

READ THE LATEST TOOLKIT – ‘Bridging Gaps: Essential Data Toolkit for Humanitarian Action’